CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana, a former space shuttle commander, speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Visible to the right is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Patrick Air Force Base honor guard participates in the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Gospel singer BeBe Winans preforms his song, 'Ultimate Sacrifice,' during the Kennedy Space Center's Day of Remembrance ceremony. The song honors heroes who lost their lives in service to the nation. Winans also sang the national anthem. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Visible to the right is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center Employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Evelyn Husband-Thompson, widow of STS-107 commander Rick Husband, speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Visible to the right is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A wreath was placed at the Space Mirror Memorial by Sandra Anderson, widow of Columbia payload commander Michael Anderson, left, and Evelyn Husband-Thompson, widow of STS-107 commander Rick Husband. They were aided by NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot, partially obscured by Husband-Thompson, and Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier. Standing at the microphone, on the right, is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center Employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former NASA astronaut Eileen Collins speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. She commanded Discovery on the STS-114 mission that returned the shuttle program to flight following STS-107. Visible to the right is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kyle Breese, playing keyboard, and Joey Beesley, singing, performed the song '16 minutes from home' during the Kennedy Space Center's Day of Remembrance ceremony. Written by Breese, the song honors the Columbia astronauts who were 16 minutes away from landing when their spacecraft broke up during re-entry 10 years ago. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the Kennedy Space Center's Visitor Complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- State Sen. Thad Altman, president and chief executive officer of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Seated to the right are, from the left, former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors Evelyn Husband-Thompson, widow of STS-107 commander Rick Husband Eileen Collins, commander of Discovery on the STS-114 mission that returned the shuttle program to flight following STS-107 Kennedy Space Center director Bob Cabana Associate Administrator for Human Exploration and Operations William Gerstenmaier NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot and Mick Ukleja, chairman of the AMF board of trustees. Space center Employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- State Sen. Thad Altman, president and chief executive officer of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation, speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Visible to the right is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center Employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors, speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Partially visible to the right is Evelyn Husband-Thompson, widow of STS-107 commander Rick Husband. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Associate Administrator Robert Lightfoot speaks during the Day of Remembrance ceremony. Visible to the right is former NASA astronaut Jon McBride, chairman of the Astronauts Memorial Foundation board of directors. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center employees and guests stand for the singing of the national anthem by gospel singer BeBe Winans during the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. Space center Employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The Patrick Air Force Base honor guard participates in the Day of Remembrance ceremony at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Space center employees and guests gathered at the Space Mirror Memorial at the visitor complex for the annual event which took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1 and the shuttle Challenger. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the Space Mirror Memorial's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Image credit: NASA Television

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Tim Jacobs

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Employees and guests placed wreaths and flowers at the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The annual event took place on the 10th anniversary of the loss of the space shuttle Columbia and its crew and was hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation. The ceremony also honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who perished in 1967, and the shuttle Challenger, lost in 1986, as well as other astronauts who lost their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Jim Grossmann

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Under rainy skies, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana speaks to guests after placing a wreath in front of the Space Mirror Memorial at the spaceport's Visitor Complex during NASA's Day of Remembrance. The brief ceremony honored the astronauts of Apollo 1, who were lost in 1967, the shuttle Challenger crew, who perished in 1986, the space shuttle Columbia astronauts who were lost in 2003, as well as other astronauts who gave their lives while furthering the cause of exploration and discovery. Dedicated in 1991, the names of fallen astronauts are emblazoned the monument's 4.5-foot-high-by-50-foot-wide polished black granite surface which reflects the sky and has been designated by Congress as a National Memorial. Photo credit: NASA_Dimitri Gerondidakis

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside a tent, employees at KSC look over an exhibit of safety equipment during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. Vendors’ exhibits were set up in the parking areas outside the Vehicle Assembly Building and the OandC Building. The day-long event also featured presentations by guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Outside the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station during a visit to Kennedy, members of the STS-114 crew pause for a photo with Anthony Ippolito (far left), current director of MILA_PDL. (MILA refers to Merritt Island Launch Area; PDL designates the Ponce De Leon Inlet site.). The crew members are (left to right) commander Eileen Collins, Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson, Wendy Lawrence and Andrew Thomas; and Pilot James Kelly. Between Lawrence and Thomas is Gary Morse (left), incumbent MILA_PDL station director. Between Thomas and Kelly is Melissa Blizzard, MILA operations manager. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Dave Reed, a project engineer with the Bionetics Corporation, discusses the various flight hardware developed or currently being developed for future space exploration missions during a tour of the Space Life Sciences Lab for members of the news media. The Exploration Flight Development and Demonstration project provides innovative and cost effective hardware solutions focused on advancing critical technologies while reducing equivalent system mass as well as safe, thorough and efficient flight vehicle platform integration of Human System Research and Technology experiments that fly on parabolic aircraft, the Space Shuttle, and International Space Station.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Orbiter Processing Facility, Matt Scott and Mel Romans (left and right), with United Space Alliance, closely inspect the final Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) panel to be installed on orbiter Discovery’s left wing. The leading edges of each of an orbiter’s wings have 22 RCC panels. They are light gray and made entirely of carbon composite material, which protect the orbiter during re-entry. The molded components are approximately 0.25- to 0.5-inch thick and capable of withstanding temperatures up to 3,220 degrees F. Following the Columbia accident in February 2002, which was caused by a breach in an RCC panel that allowed hot gases into the vehicle, each panel on Discovery was removed and thoroughly inspected before final reinstallation. Discovery is the designated orbiter to fly on the Return to Flight mission STS-114, the first Space Shuttle to launch since the accident. The launch window for the mission is May 12 to June 3, 2005.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Day in the Life page 2. Preparing the pad. Workers maintain Pad A at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39. Robert Lust of IVEY Construction pauses on his way to install a safety handrail. This photograph was taken for a special color edition of Spaceport News designed to portray in photographs a single day at KSC, July 26, 2000. The special edition, published Aug. 25, 2000, was created to give readers a look at KSC’s diverse workforce and the critical roles workers play in the nation’s space program. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Kennedy’s Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr. presents Pattie Lewis an award for a winning entry in the NASA Values essay contest. The award was presented during the One NASA Leader-Led Workshop, which presented senior leadership in the Agency talking about ongoing Transformation activities and Kennedy’s role in the Vision for Space Exploration.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - An employee at the Space Station Processing Facility monitors engineering certification testing of the Alpha Magnetic spectrometer (AMS). The AMS is a superconducting magnet that will be used in an experiment from the International Space Station (ISS) to search for antimatter and dark matter in space. The testing is being performed to ensure that data flow from the external payload AMS and the internal AMS crew operation post can be successfully routed through the ISS systems.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. -- During emergency egress training on Launch Pad 39A, Expedition Three cosmonaut Vladimir Nikolaevich Dezhurov, STS-105 Mission Specialist Patrick Forrester, and cosmonaut Mikhail Tyurin watch while other crew members descend in a slidewire basket. Both crews are at KSC to take part in Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test activities, which include the emergency egress training, a simulated launch countdown and familiarization with the payload. Mission STS-105 will be transporting the Expedition Three crew, several payloads and scientific experiments to the International Space Station aboard Discovery. The current Expedition Two crew members on the Station will return to Earth on Discovery. Launch of Discovery is scheduled no earlier than Aug. 9, 2001

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - During opening ceremonies for Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day at KSC, members of the astronaut corps and KSC employees enjoy the humor of guest speaker Dr. Pamela Peeke. Other speakers included Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. Later in the day, employees could visit many vendors’ exhibits featuring safety and health items. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Hyeon-Hye Kim, a plant physiologist with the National Research Council at the Space Life Sciences Lab, discusses the growing of plants utilizing light-emitting diodes (LEDs) during a tour of the Space Life Sciences Lab for members of the news media. A major challenge to growing plants in space will be controlling and supplying sufficient quantity and quality of light. LEDs represent an innovative artificial lighting source with several features specific for supporting plants, whether on space-based transit vehicles or planetary life support systems.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Lockheed Martin representatives explain some of the activities they are working on for safe Return to Flight of the Space Shuttle. The exhibit was one of many presented to KSC employees during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. Vendors’ exhibits were set up in the parking areas outside the Vehicle Assembly Building and the OandC Building. The day-long event also featured presentations by guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Day in the Life, page 3. Coming in for landing. A “Super Guppy” transport aircraft lands at the Shuttle Landing space Station. This photograph was taken for a special color edition of Spaceport News designed to portray in photographs a single day at KSC, July 26, 2000. The special edition, published Aug. 25, 2000, was created to give readers a look at KSC’s diverse workforce and the critical roles workers play in the nation’s space program. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Employees who worked on the Kennedy Space Center Combined Federal Campaign are recognized during the Center’s Holiday Celebration. The 2004 campaign netted $389,000 to donate to the United Way of Brevard.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station during a visit to Kennedy, mission STS-114 Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas watches Sonja Ashworth, with Honeywell, as she builds communication cables. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station during a visit to Kennedy, mission STS-114 Mission Specialist Andrew Thomas (center) looks at equipment while Sonja Ashworth, with Honeywell, builds communication cables. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - - While visiting Kennedy Space Center, members of the STS-114 crew stop to talk with workers in the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station. From left are Donna Pancho, MILA software engineer, Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas and Wendy Lawrence, Melissa Blizzard, MILA operations manager, and Pilot James Kelly. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - An exhibit of safety glasses, gloves and protective covers is one of many displayed at KSC during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. The event included guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. In addition, many vendors’ exhibits were on display for employees. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Bill Pickavance (in front), vice president, associate program manager of Florida Operations, United Space Alliance, joins workers Sam Dove, left, and Dan Drake in the cab of the Crawler Transporter before a road test. The Crawler Transporter that will move Space Shuttle Discovery to the launch pad for Return to Flight is taking its first road test following the replacement of all its shoes. The crawlers have 456 shoes, 57 per belt (8 belts in all). Each shoe weighs 2,200 pounds. Cracks appeared in the shoes in recent years, spurring a need for replacement. The new manufacturer, in Duluth, Minn., has improved the design for a safe Return to Flight and use through the balance of the Space Shuttle Program.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Day in the Life, page 2. Preparing the pad. Workers maintain Pad A at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39. Jack Hanover of SDB Engineers and Constructors Inc. prepares to change a bearing in the Rotating Service Structure. This photograph was taken for a special color edition of Spaceport News designed to portray in photographs a single day at KSC, July 26, 2000. The special edition, published Aug. 25, 2000, was created to give readers a look at KSC’s diverse workforce and the critical roles workers play in the nation’s space program. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the ice team review final details before heading to Launch Pad 39B and their part in the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Return to Flight mission STS-114. After the fuel tanking, they will be scanning and inspecting the fuel tank and other hardware on the Space Shuttle for any evidence of ice or debris. Discovery is scheduled to launch on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114 at 3:51 p.m. July 13 with a crew of seven.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - An employee at the Space Station Processing Facility performs engineering certification testing of the Alpha Magnetic spectrometer (AMS). The AMS is a superconducting magnet that will be used in an experiment from the International Space Station (ISS) to search for antimatter and dark matter in space. The testing is being performed to ensure that data flow from the external payload AMS and the internal AMS crew operation post can be successfully routed through the ISS systems.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Day in the Life, page 3. Coming in for landing. Inside the control building at the Shuttle Landing Facility, air traffic controller Donny Linton, left, and SGS air facility manager Bob Bryen survey the SLF runway. This photograph was taken for a special color edition of Spaceport News designed to portray in photographs a single day at KSC, July 26, 2000. The special edition, published Aug. 25, 2000, was created to give readers a look at KSC’s diverse workforce and the critical roles workers play in the nation’s space program. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station during a visit to Kennedy, members of the STS-114 crew listen to Gary Morse (left), incumbent MILA_PDL station director. (MILA refers to Merritt Island Launch Area; PDL designates the Ponce De Leon Inlet site.) The astronauts, from left, are Mission Specialists Andrew Thomas, Wendy Lawrence and Stephen Robinson, and Commander Eileen Collins. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - An employee at the Space Station Processing Facility performs engineering certification testing of the Alpha Magnetic spectrometer (AMS). The AMS is a superconducting magnet that will be used in an experiment from the International Space Station (ISS) to search for antimatter and dark matter in space. The testing is being performed to ensure that data flow from the external payload AMS and the internal AMS crew operation post can be successfully routed through the ISS systems.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Kennedy’s Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr. presents Mary Erdmann an award for a winning entry in the NASA Values essay contest. The award was presented during the One NASA Leader-Led Workshop, which presented senior leadership in the Agency talking about ongoing Transformation activities and Kennedy’s role in the Vision for Space Exploration.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station during a visit to Kennedy, STS-114 Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence and Commander Eileen Collins sign crew photos and logos. William Foster, Johnson Space Center ground controller, looks on. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Kennedy’s Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr. presents Carol Anne Dunn an award for a winning entry in the NASA Values essay contest. The award was presented during the One NASA Leader-Led Workshop, which presented senior leadership in the Agency talking about ongoing Transformation activities and Kennedy’s role in the Vision for Space Exploration.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC Employees stop by the American Red Cross exhibit during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. The event included guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. In addition, many vendors’ exhibits were on display for employees. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Employees at KSC walk through a tent filled with vendors’ exhibits during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. Vendors’ exhibits were set up in the parking areas outside the Vehicle Assembly Building and the OandC Building. The day-long event also featured presentations by guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - While visiting Kennedy Space Center, STS-114 Commander Eileen Collins (left) talks with John Bailey, MILA Support Services manager, and Harold Stinger, SGT president, in the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station. The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Inside the MILA Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network Station during a visit to Kennedy, STS-114 Mission Specialist Wendy Lawrence and Commander Eileen Collins sign crew photos and logos. Behind Lawrence is Anthony Ippolito, current director of MILA_PDL, and William Foster, Johnson Space Center ground controller. (MILA refers to Merritt Island Launch Area; PDL designates the Ponce De Leon Inlet site.) The tracking station serves as the primary voice, data and telemetry communications link between the Shuttle and the ground from launch until 7-1_2 minutes into the flight. Millions of clues about the performance of the Space Shuttle’s main engines and other components are communicated to launch managers, technicians and engineers on the ground, who must keep their fingers on the pulse of the Space Shuttle during the critical ascent period. In a typical year, MILA provides through KSC more than 10,000 hours of data between spacecraft and data users. MILA is also used during a Space Shuttle landing at KSC and provides communications beginning about 13 minutes before touchdown. Also, MILA can be called upon to provide data transfer support for NASA’s Expendable Launch Vehicle missions and orbiting scientific satellites.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC employees stop at a table with a display of juices during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. The event included guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. In addition, many vendors’ exhibits were on display for employees. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the ice team review final details before heading to Launch Pad 39B and their part in the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Return to Flight mission STS-114. After the fuel tanking, they will be scanning and inspecting the fuel tank and other hardware on the Space Shuttle for any evidence of ice or debris. Discovery is scheduled to launch on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114 at 3:51 p.m. July 13 with a crew of seven.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The closeout crew is getting ready for their part in the launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on Return to Flight mission STS-114. In the White Room at the end of the Orbiter Access Arm, the closeout crew helps the astronauts put on their helmets, adjust and secure their equipment and climb into the cockpit. Discovery is scheduled to launch on the historic Return to Flight mission STS-114 at 3:51 p.m. July 13 with a crew of seven.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - A technician works on a Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) slated for use on the STS-114 mission in the Vehicle Assembly Building. Repairs are under way on the Solid Rocket Booster aft inactive stub, an attach ring surrounding the booster located approximately 10 feet below the point where the External Tank is mated to the SRBs. Return to Flight Mission STS-114 will carry the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Raffaello, filled with supplies for the International Space Station, and a replacement Control Moment Gyroscope. Launch of STS-114 has a launch window of May 15 to June 3.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Public Information Officer George Diller plays his role as commentator during in an End-to-End (ETE) Mission Management Team (MMT) launch simulation at KSC. In Firing Room 1 at KSC, Shuttle launch team members put the Shuttle system through an integrated simulation. The control room is set up with software used to simulate flight and ground systems in the launch configuration. The ETE MMT simulation included L-2 and L-1 day Prelaunch MMT meetings, an external tanking_weather briefing, and a launch countdown. The ETE transitioned to the Johnson Space Center for the flight portion of the simulation, with the STS-114 crew in a simulator at JSC. Such simulations are common before a launch to keep the Shuttle launch team sharp and ready for liftoff.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - KSC employees learn about a mechanical robot displayed at an exhibit during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. The event included guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. In addition, many vendors’ exhibits were on display for employees. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Employees at KSC take time to look at safety equipment on display during Spaceport Super Safety and Health Day. Vendors’ exhibits were set up in the parking areas outside the Vehicle Assembly Building and the OandC Building. The day-long event also featured presentations by guest speakers Dr. Pamela Peeke, Navy Com. Stephen E. Iwanowicz, NASA’s Dr. Kristine Calderon and Olympic-great Bruce Jenner. Super Safety and Health Day was initiated at KSC in 1998 to increase awareness of the importance of safety and health among the government and contractor workforce. The theme for this year’s event was “Safety and Health: A Winning Combination.”

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Kennedy’s Deputy Director Woodrow Whitlow Jr. presents Ronny Goodin an award for a winning entry in the NASA Values essay contest. The award was presented during the One NASA Leader-Led Workshop, which presented senior leadership in the Agency talking about ongoing Transformation activities and Kennedy’s role in the Vision for Space Exploration.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Day in the Life, page 2. Preparing the pad. Workers maintain Pad A at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39. A team of United Space Alliance workers don gas masks before calibrating the pad’s hypergolic fuel system. This photograph was taken for a special color edition of Spaceport News designed to portray in photographs a single day at KSC, July 26, 2000. The special edition, published Aug. 25, 2000, was created to give readers a look at KSC’s diverse workforce and the critical roles workers play in the nation’s space program. Spaceport News is an official publication of the Kennedy Space Center and is published on alternate Fridays by the Public Affairs Office in the interest of KSC civil service and contractor employees

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Andy Schuerger, a research assistant professor with the University of Florida, demonstrates the Mars Simulation Chamber at the Space Life Sciences Lab during a tour of the facility for members of the news media. Schuerger is studying the effects of interplanetary space and Mars surface conditions on the survival, growth, and potential adaption of terrestrial microbes to the martian surface.